Answers Index

In November 2014, Authors Answer began, and our contributors answered weekly questions.  Here, you can find all of the answers gathered in one place.  We are currently in our second year.

Year 1 (November 2014-October 2015)

• November 7 – Question 1: If you could design your dream writing studio/office, what would it be like?
• November 14 – Question 2: Is there an author who is often criticised that you love to read? Who is it?
• November 21 – Question 3: How difficult do you find it to write characters who have vastly different beliefs than you?
• November 28 – Question 4: If you could interview any author, who would it be, and what question would you ask?
• December 5 – Question 5: Have you read any foreign language novels, translated or not? What would you recommend?
• December 12 – Question 6: Which mistake or bad habit in writing is the most difficult for you to stop doing? (With guest Michael J. Sullivan)
• December 19 – Question 7: Christmas is coming! In your opinion, what would be the perfect gift for a writer? (With guest Michael J. Sullivan)
• December 26 – Question 8: The New Year is coming soon. What are your plans for 2015 in terms of writing? (With guest Michael J. Sullivan)
• January 2 – Question 9: What are your favourite genres to read?
• January 9 – Question 10: What are your least favourite genres to read?
• January 16 – Question 11: If you were going to write in a genre other than what you normally write, what would you like to try?
• January 23 – Question 12: My daughter’s third birthday is on January 25th. What children’s books did you read when you were a child?
• January 30 – Question 13: Can you recommend an author you enjoy that is not well-known? Why did you choose them?
• February 6 – Question 14: When coming up with a new story, what comes first, the character or the plot? (Asked by Jean Davis)
• February 13 – Question 15: All of us write prose fiction (unless I’m mistaken) in an era that has an astounding variety of storytelling media. Has your writing been significantly influenced by any works of newer media? (Asked by D. T. Nova)
• February 20 – Question 16: What are your favorite online resources/websites for writers? (Asked by Amy Morris-Jones)
• February 27 – Question 17: What authors, styles or intellectual movements have most influenced your writing? (Asked by H. Anthe Davis)
• March 6 – Question 18: Have you ever wanted to rewrite the ending of another author’s published book? How would you change it? (Asked by Amy Morris-Jones)
• March 13 – Question 19: How did you get into writing and what made you select your genre of choice? (Asked by H. Anthe Davis)
• March 20 – Question 20: What element of writing (setting, characterization, plot development, etc.) do you find most challenging? (Asked by Amy Morris-Jones)
• March 27 – Question 21: What is your ultimate goal with your writing?  Fame, fortune, changing the world? (Asked by H. Anthe Davis)
• April 3 – Question 22: Barring a zombie apocalypse, is there anything that could make you stop writing? (Asked by H. Anthe Davis)
• April 10 – Question 23: What is your favourite point of view and tense to write in? Why?
• April 17 – Question 24: How important is it to you to continue learning and brushing up on basic skills such as grammar? For instance, would you pay to take a course? (Asked by Linda G. Hill)
• April 24 – Question 25: Would you rather write one book that’s hugely popular or many books with little recognition? (Asked by stomperdad)
• May 2 – Question 26: If you could date any fictional character, who would you date? (Asked by stomperdad)
• May 8 – Question 27: Do you think there are any books that have changed history? (Asked by stomperdad)
• May 15 – Question 28: Vanity Publishing? Indie Publishing? Self Publishing? Traditional Publishing? Author Publishing? What is the difference? What do you recommend? (Asked by RedTheWriter)
• May 23 – Question 29: How do adult authors write from the point of view of children/teenagers so well? (Asked by aclmohle)
• May 29 – Question 30: What do you think of fan fiction as a writing medium? Do you think it has credibility despite the subject matter? (Asked by OpheliaMorse)
• June 6 – Question 31: What is your current work in progress? What’s it about?
• June 12 – Question 32: Do you write about any controversial topics?
• June 19 – Question 33: Can you briefly describe your writing process?
• June 26 – Question 34: What software do you recommend for writing books?
• July 3 – Question 35: How do you feel about movie novelisations?
• July 10 – Question 36: How do you deal with sex in your writing?
• July 17 – Question 37: Do you use beta readers? How many?
• July 24 – Question 38: It’s summer, so what’s on your summer reading list?
• July 31 – Question 39: Do you use critique groups or writer’s groups? Are they helpful?
• August 7 – Question 40: What kind of scenes do you find most difficult to write?
• August 14 – Question 41: What was it like when you published your first story? If you haven’t published yet, what do you imagine it will be like?
• August 21 – Question 42: Does political correctness have a place in your writing?
• August 28 – Question 43: I would love to hear anything anyone has to say about book promotions and what route work best for them. (asked by tlclark)
• September 4 – Question 44: Would you ever consider writing in a genre outside your scope if you thought it would give you a better chance of exposure/financial gain? (asked by Tracey Lynn Tobin)
• September 11 – Question 45: It’s the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001. How much do major world events influence your writing?
• September 18 – Question 46: How do you use your blog or website to promote your writing?
• September 25 – Question 47: How do you portray different cultures in your writing?
• October 2 – Question 48: What’s your least favourite part of the writing and publishing process?
• October 9 – Question 49: What must you have when you write?
• October 16 – Question 50: How much support for your writing do you get from your family?
• October 23 – Question 51: Halloween is coming up. If you were to wear a costume, which character from any book would you like to dress up as?
• October 30 – Question 52: What would you like to say to your fans and readers?

Year 2 (November 2015-October 2016)

• November 6 – Question 53: There have been a lot of trends in literature, such as zombies, sparkly vampires, and so on. Would you jump on the bandwagon and write a novel with a trendy subject?
• November 13 – Question 54: It’s Friday the 13th. Horror is a popular genre. Could you torture one of your characters?
• November 20 – Question 55: If one of your stories were going to be made into a movie or TV series, who would you like to act as one of your main characters?
• November 27 – Question 56: Apart from writing fiction, do you do any other creative works?
• December 4 – Question 57: What is one question you hate answering about your writing that acquaintances ask you?
• December 11 – Question 58: What are some online forums or websites you use to have discussions with other authors?
• December 18 – Question 59: Have you ever written a character so offensive that you hated or strongly disliked them?
• December 25 – Question 60: What are your plans for Christmas Day?
• January 1 – Question 61: What are your goals for 2016?
• January 8 – Question 62: Who is your favorite character that you created (either for a book/story or just because)? (Asked by Eric Wood)
• January 15 – Question 63: When did you start writing fiction, and what did you write?
• January 22 – Question 64: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• January 29 – Question 65: What would you say to someone to convince them to read the genre you write in?
• February 5 – Question 66: Have you ever wanted to quit writing?
• February 12 – Question 67: Valentine’s Day is coming up. How do you handle the romantic aspect of writing in fiction?
• February 19 – Question 68: What are some of the most unusual things you’ve researched for your writing?
• February 26 – Question 69: As a writer or blogger, what was the most unusual request or comment you’ve received?
• March 4 – Question 70: If you could request any author to be a guest on Authors Answer, who would it be and why?
• March 11 – Question 71: As an author, which do you prefer writing, standalone stories or series?
• March 18 – Question 72: Do you have a daily or weekly target for writing? What is it, and how do you achieve it?
• March 25 – Question 73: Jay Dee is moving to Canada in less than a week. In the voice of one of your characters, how would they describe a nine hour flight from Japan to Canada?
• April 1 – Question 74: Can you tell us about a future book that you’re working on? (This was an April Fools joke)
• April 8 – Question 75: If you could take any fairy tale and rewrite it as a full-length novel, which would it be and how would you change it to suit your style?
• April 15 – Question 76: When you look at your oldest writing, what surprises or embarrasses you?
• April 22 – Question 77: How do you choose character names?
• April 29 – Question 78: If you could have a literary superpower, what special ability would you like to have that would help your writing?
• May 6 – Question 79: What are the worst things that can break your concentration while writing?